# Karabiner-Elements

> Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS

Karabiner-Elements is a free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS. Simple key-to-key changes are set in its settings window, while more involved rules, such as turning Caps Lock into a modifier combination or sending a different key when a key is tapped alone, are written or imported as JSON. Changes can be limited to specific keyboards and grouped into profiles.

- **Category:** Desktop Utilities
- **Made by:** pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko)
- **Website:** https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Karabiner-Elements is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** Free to use without any purchase. Funding is optional, through GitHub Sponsors or a $10 PayPal payment that the author describes as effectively a donation.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Karabiner-Elements | $0 | The complete app, open source and usable without any purchase. Supports Intel-based and Apple silicon Macs. |

Read from https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/pricing/ on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Karabiner-Elements before buying.

## Key features

- **Simple modifications:** Change one key to another key from the settings window, with no rules to write.
- **Complex modifications:** Rule-based changes: turn a key into a combination of modifiers, map a modifier plus key to another key, send a different event when a key is pressed alone, or act on keys pressed simultaneously.
- **Community rule gallery:** Predefined rules such as Vi and Emacs key bindings, diamond cursor and mouse keys can be imported from the project's rule site, then edited or replaced with your own.
- **Per-device settings and profiles:** Apply modifications only to chosen keyboards, keep multiple profiles, and switch between profiles from the menu bar icon.
- **Function and extra keys:** Map f1 to f12 to media controls, and enable extra keys on PC keyboards that macOS does not recognize by default, such as international and language keys.
- **Works at secure prompts:** Modifications keep working in Secure Keyboard Entry environments, such as password prompts and terminals with that option turned on.

## Good for

- Mac users who want to remap keys or modifiers at no cost
- People using PC, JIS or other non-Apple keyboards on a Mac
- Vi and Emacs users who want their key bindings everywhere on macOS

## Worth knowing

- macOS only. The current release supports macOS 13 Ventura and later; earlier systems need older versions from the download menu.
- Rules beyond simple key swaps are defined as JSON, either imported from the community gallery or written by hand.
- It cannot modify the fn key on non-Apple keyboards, or the eject key on some keyboards such as the Apple Wired Keyboard.

**Tags:** Keyboard and mouse remapping, Open source, Keyboard-first, Menu bar app

## Alternatives

- [BetterTouchTool](https://toolgpa.com/tools/bettertouchtool): Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bettertouchtool-vs-karabiner-elements)
- [Keyboard Maestro](https://toolgpa.com/tools/keyboard-maestro): Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/karabiner-elements-vs-keyboard-maestro)
- [Hammerspoon](https://toolgpa.com/tools/hammerspoon): Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/hammerspoon-vs-karabiner-elements)
- [Mac Mouse Fix](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mac-mouse-fix): Trackpad-style gestures and smooth scrolling for third-party mice. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/karabiner-elements-vs-mac-mouse-fix)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/
- https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/pricing/
- https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/getting-started/features/
- https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/manual/configuration/configure-menu-bar-icon/
- https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/manual/operation/profiles/
- https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/privacy/
- https://github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/karabiner-elements
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).